Part 0800.0005

[ubereglu]

Hi,

 

I wondered if anyone would be able to tell me how to get from Waterloo to Kings Cross via tube. I have to make this journey next Friday evening and the way back on the Sunday. This will be the first time I've had to go across London on my own, so can any of you help me with this by giving me some tips please?

 

I'm then heading on to Cambridge, so do you have any idea on which platform at Kings Cross I'd need to go on to get there?

[Geoid]

The transport for London website has all the details.

www.tfl.gov.uk

 

Not sure about the platform, your ticket should say which one to take.

[theherd123]

Liz I'm sure you will be fine

 

From the maps I have looked at you get on the black line north to Euston (6 stops or 7 stops if it calls at Goodge St) then change to the blue line which takes you to Kings Cross (1 stop)

 

I dont have to go to London that often so I'm not very familiar with the tube system therefore I memorise my journey and always appear confident even if I am a bit lost. I always buy a ticket which lasts all day and takes me anywhere I want to go within the zones I need to be in, that way if I get on the wrong tube I dont have to worry about buying another ticket to get to where I'm supposed to be!

 

Hope that helps Liz

[Guest]

You will be fine and the staff on the tubes etc are so helpful so just ask any of them on the platforms etc.

 

When you get to Kings cross follow the red signs for the main terminal of Kings Cross overground(up stairs).

On the main concourse is a big digital board(just like at an airport) it will tell you where trains are going to ie Cambridge, Peterborough etc, the time it leaves and the platform number to go to. It is dead easy! you will need to show your ticket at all entry and exit points so just have it handy....when you get to the correct platform again it tells you on a small board which stations the train is calling at. More commonly it will be the Finsbury Park to Stevenage to Cambridge etc etc( we use this line a lot) try to get a fast train that is not stopping at all the stations en route.

 

You will be fine! indie

[Geoid]

The black line is called the Northern Line

[theherd123]

The black line is called the Northern Line

 

 

That just shows how often I go to London!

[Cinnamon]

Liz,if you pre book your tickets,then all the travel itinery will be laid out for you,including the platforms.

I found this invaluable when booking the Uni train trips

 

......are you doing a Uni visit to Cambridge???

[WarrensWorld]

Northern line to Liecester Square - Piccadily line to Kings Cross, follow the signs to Kings Cross mainline. Then check the train indicator board, I think Cambridge trains are on the left-hand side, but don't quote me it's been a long time.

[patsylabrador]

I haven't checked out the tube prices, but Londoners use the Oyster card. Consider getting one as I'm pretty sure it will work out cheaper for your tube travel on both days. For some reason you have to pay £3 deposit when you buy it and then whatever you want to put on it. I won't use the tube without one as the cost for simply a single ticket on the tube is astronomical without one, and you can top it up. You can then keep it for any future trips to London.

The tfl site is very good, as Fred said.

Grab a tube map at station, or print one off, I always have to use one!

[Looney]

Hiya, the platform for Cambridge isn't always the same, as others have said you'll see the big display boards in the main foyer of the station. Quite often they go from 9b (i think?!) which is down the left of the platforms behind the main foyer and then you go left again through some more barriers. Trains from KX to Cambridge are reasonably frequent. Where in Cambridge are you going?

[patsylabrador]

You probably don't need to be told this, but be very aware of who is around you. I get very cross with teenage girls who barge you from the back when you're going through the barrier so that they don't have to pay. Give them an elbow in the ribs or deliberately get your bag stuck - that really annoys them.

It's sensible to have a couple of routes prepared as the tube is unpredictable. I think there are engineering works on nine of the lines this weekend - great for bank holiday! You can't rely on assistance from tube staff either, some are lovely, some definitely aren't.

If for some reason you end up on the circle line and realise you're going in the wrong direction, don't think you might as well go all the way round - it takes forever. It's quicker to jump off at the next station and change platforms.

If a very crowded train pulls up, check the time of the next one on the board, it's often only a few minutes and wait and is likely to be less crowded. It's sometimes best to walk to the end of the platform where less people congregate.

If you get an oyster card, you just have to whack it on the yellow circle on the barrier near where the tickets go in. The british transport police are generally nice if you have a problem.

[sadietoo]

You can buy a travel card for zones 1 and 2 which I think will cover what you need when you get to waterloo for £3.40 and that covers you all day....(so if you go wrong you should be ok) there is usually an automatic dispenser for these near the tube station..But check your train ticket because some times cross london fares are included If you have a lot of luggage, don't bother with the automatic barriers..go through where the guard stands and that way you can confirm with him or her that you are heading in the right direction... the staff are much more helpful these days....at one time (in the olden days!) no one wanted to tell you anything!!!

[ubereglu]

Thanks for all the advice.

 

I've just had a look at the tube map and I can go from Waterloo to Leicester Square via the Northern Line and can then take the Piccadily line to Kings Cross. Or I can take the Northern Line to Euston and then should be able to get to Kings Cross from there?

 

I'm going to Cambridge for an open day at Anglia Ruskin to look around their campus next Saturday, in particular the Optometry course. I am going up on the Friday night and staying over with my Uncle until Sunday afternoon. My train ticket will be from Yeovil Junction to Cambridge, so the tickets I get will cover everything on Off peak return anyway. I looked at splitting the journey up, but that's more expensive.